little numbers/arsenal marks on K98s ?

gunssb · 04-14-2005, 11:49 PM

Hi, how does one decipher the little numbers under the arsenal marks on K98s ? The little ones that say "214", "63", etc. My Mauser book doesn't have any details. Is there a book specifically for the K98 ? Thanks!

Gyrene · 04-15-2005, 01:06 AM

gunssb - Search on Mausers, and you should find a site that will have people who are on top of this, if you don't find out what you need to know, here, on Gun and Game.

The numbers are many times, proof marks, or inspection marks, and sometimes the individual Inspectors' ID number. Some are to note the manufacturer of a specific part, or parts.

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Not pertinent to this thread, but I have a Colt .45 New Service M1917 Revolver, that had a British Proof mark on it, and it had what appeared to be a Chinese Character (to me). Well, I asked my lady friend if it was a Chinese Character, and if so what did it say? She looked at the mark, laughed, and said, "It say, 'Good Work'." Voila, a Chinese Inspection Stamp! Was the inspection done on Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Singapore? Who knows, as all of those locations used that specific revolver, and also use Chinese Inspection Stamps.

If you didn't know, regardless of dialect of Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghaiese, Fujian, . . . ), the characters mean exactly the same, though the words are pronounced differently.

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04-14-2005, 11:49 PM	#1
gunssb Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: socal Posts: 1,833	little numbers/arsenal marks on K98s ? Hi, how does one decipher the little numbers under the arsenal marks on K98s ? The little ones that say "214", "63", etc. My Mauser book doesn't have any details. Is there a book specifically for the K98 ? Thanks!

04-15-2005, 01:06 AM	#2
Gyrene Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: CA Posts: 886	gunssb - Search on Mausers, and you should find a site that will have people who are on top of this, if you don't find out what you need to know, here, on Gun and Game. The numbers are many times, proof marks, or inspection marks, and sometimes the individual Inspectors' ID number. Some are to note the manufacturer of a specific part, or parts. --------------------------------------- Not pertinent to this thread, but I have a Colt .45 New Service M1917 Revolver, that had a British Proof mark on it, and it had what appeared to be a Chinese Character (to me). Well, I asked my lady friend if it was a Chinese Character, and if so what did it say? She looked at the mark, laughed, and said, "It say, 'Good Work'." Voila, a Chinese Inspection Stamp! Was the inspection done on Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Singapore? Who knows, as all of those locations used that specific revolver, and also use Chinese Inspection Stamps. If you didn't know, regardless of dialect of Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghaiese, Fujian, . . . ), the characters mean exactly the same, though the words are pronounced differently. `